Press Release

09/08/2008 1:10 PM ET

Fans to help select baseball's Man of the Year

MLBPA Press Release

NEW YORK -- Fans voting on-line this week will help select the Major League baseball player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement. Fan-voting for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award will be conducted on www.MLBPLAYERS.com, the official website of Major League baseball players, through Sunday, September 14.

The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is bestowed annually by Major League players, along with nine other PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS, to honor the players they believe are the best in the game. Players on each of the 30 Major League teams have nominated one teammate as a candidate for the 2008 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Fans now may visit MLBPLAYERS.com to select their favorite among the nominees. Six finalists chosen by the fans (one from each division) will appear on the PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS ballot when all Major Leaguers vote September 17* to select the winner.

Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was the recipient of the 2007 Man of the Year Award. Torii shares his passion for baseball with those less fortunate through the Torii Hunter Project, which has partnered with Little League Baseballs Urban Initiative to help improve and maintain the condition of baseball diamonds in urban America. Past winners of the award, named for the legendary baseball union leader, also include Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, John Smoltz, Mike Sweeney, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Eric Davis and Paul Molitor.

The 2008 PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS also honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher, and comeback player in each league, as well as the overall Outstanding Player of the Year. 2008 Players Choice Award winners in all categories will designate charities to receive grants totaling $260,000 from the Players Trust. Since 1992, the Players Trust has recognized the outstanding on-field and off-field performances of Players Choice Awards winners by contributing more than $3.3 million to charities around the world.

The following players were nominated by their teammates for the 2008 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award: [See below or visit www.MLBPLAYERS.com to learn more about their community involvement.]